Elevator.



M. C. SCHWAB.

ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION IILED APR. 22, 1910.

Patented May 28, 1912.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M. G. SGHWAB.

ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, 1910.

1,027,628. Patented May28,1912.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. G. SGHWAB.

ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, 1910.

Patented May 28, ,1912.

'I SHEETS-SHEET 4K M. 0. SGHWAB. ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, 1910.

1,027,628, Patented May 28, 1912.

M. O. SGHWAB.

ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, 1910.

1,027, 2 I Pa tented May 28, 1912.,

7 SHEETSSHEET 6.

@712, O O J M. G. SGHWAB.

ELEVATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 22, 1910.

7 8HEETS-SHEET 7.

Patented May 28, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN C. SCHWAB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELEVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28,1912.

Original application 'flled April 27, 1909, Serial No. 492,587. Divided and this application filed April 22, 1910. Serial No. 556,991.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known thatI, MARTIN -C. SCHWAB, a citizen of the United States, residing at (lhicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevators, of which the following is aspecification.

This application is a division of my pending application filed April 27, 1909, Serial No. 492,587, and its subject matter was originally described and claimed in an application filed May 7, 1907, Serial No. 372,446.

The invention relates to mechanism .for automatically stopping an elevatorcar or cars under certain hereinafter mentioned conditions.

All of the several novel features described in this. application are applicable to that class of elevator apparatus in which aplurality of cars are arranged in the same shaft or well, one above the other, and are capable of moving both upward and downward therein, each car being capable of being operated entirely independently of the other, excepting when the automatic stopping mechanism is set in action by the approach of the cars to mined distance apart. Some of its novel features are applicable to this class of elevator apparatus only, and some, namely, those relating to the top and bottom limitstop 'mechanism, are equally applicable to this class and also the-class in which only a single car is operated in a single shaft or well.

The purpose of the present application is to cover and include in its claims only those 'novel features that are applicable only to an elevator system having a plurality of 7 cars arranged in one and the same shaft, one above another, and I do not herein specifically claim equally applicable to such asystem and to a system in which only a single car is arranged in a single shaft, regardless of the a presence or, absence of any other car in the same shaft, these latter features being covered and included in my aforesaid application of: which this is a division.

In its broadest aspect, the invention is not within '-a predeter-- any of those features which are be prevented from concerned with the character or construction of the mechanism for counter-balancing, operating or controlling the car or cars, and while some of its features are thus equally applicable to all elevators, regardless of the construction of their operating or controlling mechanism, or the number of cars in each shaft, others are specifically applicable to elevators having electric controlling mechanism, while still othersv are specifically applicable to elevators having hydraulic operating and controlling mechanism.' These latter are herein claimed only generically.

When two cars are operating in the same sh aft it is desirable that automatic mechanism be provided for stopping them when they approach to within a predetermined.

distance apart, either when both are moving. in the same direct-ion or in opposite directions, or when one is standing still and the other is moving toward it, and this predetermined distance may be the distance between any desired number of floors,say three. It is also desirable that each car shall be absolutely free to be operated entirely independently of the other, as if the latter were not present, excepting when the auto: matic stopping mechanism is in action. It is also desirable that even after the automatic-stopping mechanism has acted, either in order to permit the upper car to descend to its bottom limit,--say to the first floor if the lower car is in the basement. It is also desirable that the upper car be automati 'cally stopped at its bottom limit, before it strikes the lower car, and that the lower car commencing its ascent until the upper car, in its ascent, has reached the third floor. It isalso desirable that the upper and lower cars be automatically.

stopped when they reach their upper and lower limits, respectively. It is also deslrcar may be moved awayfrom the ther, ex-

accomplished by the direct cont-act of suit-- able devices carried by the cars themselves.

It is also desirable that all automatic stopping be accomplished by the direct contact of suitable devices one, at least, of which is carried by thecar and one of which is capable of receding to permit the car, if running at high speed, to continue to move a short distance after the. automatic stop mechanism has acted. It is also desirable, in the case of an electrically controlled elevator, that the automatic stopping of the car be accomplished by rendering the operators controller-lever inoperative.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for accomplishing all of these desirable results and others hereinafter described, and to this end the invention consists in the features of novelty that are here inafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of an electrically controlled elevator apparatus, having two cars in a single shaft, embodying the invention. Fig. 1" is a detail view showing a slight modification. Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views, on a larger scale, of the upper and lower cars, respectively. Figs. 2 and 3 are details. Fig. 4: is a similar View of the upper car, showing a modification in. the construction of the switch and its operating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a similar but fragmentary view showing a modification of the mechanism for operating the switch of Fig. 4. F i 6 is an enlarged diagrammatic representation of the switch of Fig. 4: and of the signal lamps, the controller, the circuit breaker and the circuit including them. Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevation of the switches and other parts of the mechanism for preventing the cars from colliding and the bottom limit switch of the upper car. Fig. 8 is a side elevation, on a still larger scale, of the controller. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the upper. car shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic elevation of the two electrically controlled cars showing the applicationof the invention, under another modification, to only the mechanism for preventing the cars from colliding. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic elevation of a single electrically controlled car showing the application of the invention under another modification to only the limit-stop mechanism. Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic elevation of two hydraulically operated and controlled cars showing the application of the invention thereto. Fig. 13 is a similar View showing the application of the invention, under another modification, to only the mechanism for preventing the cars from colliding. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic elevation of a single hydraulically operated and controlled car showing the application of the invention under another modification, to only the limit-stop mechanism. Figs. 15 and 16, are respectively an end elevation and an axial section on a larger scale, of a limit-stop valve of a hydraulic elevator, such as is now in common use.

f C and C represent the two elevator cars located in the same shaft or well and running upon a pair of guides 1. The means for counter-balancing and operating or propelling the cars are not shown in the drawings because they form no part of the present invention. Suflice it to say that they are so counter-balanced, and their operating mechanisms are of" such construction, that, excepting as hereinafter described, each car may run both upward and downward in the shaft independently of the other car. This type of elevator is more particularly adapted for use in lofty buildings. It is the intention in practice, that the upper shall run as an express car, to, say the middle floor of the building and as a local car for the upper floors, while the lower car shall be runonly to, say the middle floor of the building as a local car for the lower floors,

but it is nevertheless desirable thatthe lower car may, if desired be used to serve the upper floors also. The operating mechanism for the cars may be of electric, hydraulic, or any other type, and if desired the upper and lower cars may be operated by mechanism of different typessay electric for the upper and hydraulic for the lower. p

Each of the cars carries a controller, C, for a circuit, a portion of which is shown at 2, which includes an electro-receptive device of any suit-able construction for controlling the motor mechanism, and the controller itself may be of any construction that will answer the requirements hereinafter described. The details in its construc tion are not shown in the drawings except ing in so far as it is necessary to show them in order to fully understand the invention.

In Figs. (5 and 8 it is shown as having a suitable casing, 3, containing its mechanism which includes a projecting shaft, 4:, upon which is mounted a lever 5, the shaft and lever being normally connected by a key, 6, carried by the lever and occupying a groove, 7, in the shaft. The shaft is held normally in position, and is returned theretd when unrestrained, by means of a spring, 8, the central portion of which is attached to-the shaft at'9, the portions of the spring on the opposite sides of its point of attachment to the shaft being wrapped one or more times around the shaft and its ends crossed ,and

carried off from the shaft at tangents, in the form of the letter V. A pin, 10, carried by the casing, 3, engages the ends of the spring at the crotch and limits their moveprojecting ends of the spring and thereby put the spring under tension so that when the pressure upon the lever is released the spring will return it, and through it, will return the shaft 4, to central position. The key, 6, is in fact the core of a solenoid, 12, which is carried by the lever and said key is held normally in engagement with the groove of the shaft'by a spring 13, but when the solenoid is energized it will withdraw the key from engagement with the shaft, so that the spring re-acting upon the shaft will restore it to central position. This is a practical means for normally connecting the lever and shaft and for disconnecting them upon the energizing of the solenoid, but I desire to have it understood that any other means for accomplishing these'results may be substituted therefor and still be within the scope of the invention.

The circuit 14, which includes the solenoid extends to any suitable source of electrical energy, either carried by the car 01"- oflthe car and includes an alarm or. signaling device A, a circuit breaker B,and a pair of normally opened contacts 15, all of which are carried by the car. The circuit breaker may be of any desired construction and is provided with a push button 16, lo-' cated withinconvenient reach of the operator so'that he may open the circuit and deenergize the solenoid whenever he desiresto reestablish his control over the controller through the mediumof thecontroller-lever; The device A, may be either an'audible or a visual alarm or signal. Preferably it consists of a pair of lamps 17 arranged in multiple. The parts thus far described are duplicated on the two cars.

The contacts 15, of the upper cars are controlled by a switch S, which is carried by a weight. T (which alsoperforms the function of a tappet and is hereinafter so called when that function is concerned) and this weight is supported by a rope or cable 18 (preferably made of hemp) which passes over a stationary pulley 19 on the top of the car, thence over a traveling pulley 20 and has its end secured to the car as at 21. The shaft of the pulley 20 travels on tracks or ways 22 and is limited in its travel by stops 23. A yoke 24 engages the'shaft of the pulley 20' and to it is connected one end of a cable 25 which passes over a fixed pulley 26 and carries at its other end a take-up weight WV. This mechanism constitutes a diiferen tial take-up (D) for taking up the slack in the cable 18 when the downward movement of the weight T is arrested and the upper car continues to move downward, or when the lower car lifts the weight T It will be seen that with the arrangement shown the differential istwo to one so that the takeup weight W, moves only one-half as far as the weight T the object of this being to limit the travel of the weight W, to a distance not exceeding the height of the car, the intention being that this weight shall be contained within a hollow pilaster built in the car. In passing from the weight T to the pulley 19, the cable 18- passes between two pulleys-28 and 29 which are supported by hangers 30 depending from the bottom of the car, the object being to hold the weight well to the side of the elevator shaft and permit it to travel close to the guide rail 1, the Weight'being preferably formed with a groove which receives the guide rail as shown in Fig. 2. It will be understood that the cable 18 contains portions of the wires of the circuit 14 and that from the point 21 at which the cable is anchored to the car (or other part), the circuit runs to include the devices A, B, and C and the source. The weight T is heavier than the weight W so that when not restrained the weight T will hold the weight W in its upperinost position and will, itself, be held by the cable 18 at such a distance below the bottom of the upper car that when the two cars approach to within the aforesaid predetermined distance apart, (say three floors) the push button of the switch S, will come in contact with the tappet T on the lower car, and thereby close the circuit- 14 at the switch S, thus energizing the sowhatever name, which is adapted to strike orengage the push button or equivalent part of a switch foroperating it.) The car may continue to travel somedistance after the action last described takes place, with a tendency to slacken the cable '18, but this slack is instantly taken up by the take-up mechanism D. r

Assuming that the lower car is above its bottom limit, when the switch S contacts with the tappet T, a similar switch S on the lower car contacts with a tappet or contact surface on the weight T and closes the circuit 14 of the lower car at the contacts 15, so that the solenoid of the lower car is operated in likemanner and with a like result it will be seen that the cars are capable ofbeing operated independently of each other,

either upward or downward until they reach the aforesaid predetermined distanceapart, whereupon their automatic'stop'ping mechanism will be set in action, and the moving car or cars stopped. As before intimated, the cars may not, and in most cases will not, stop instantly and this makes, it necessary to use a tappet that will recede relatively to the car or other part supporting it, and when this receding tappet is supported by a cable it becomes necessary to use take-up mechanism for drawing the slack out of the cable. The closing of the circuit 14 also operates the alarm or signal A'and it will continue to operate until the circuit is again broken. I

If the operator of either car desires to move his car he breaks the circuit at B and thereby is enabled to re-establish mechanical connection between the controller-lever and the controller shaft. When this is.done he may move his car in either direction, but

having been warned of the danger of moving it toward the other car he will naturally not do so, or, if it is necessary to do so, as it sometimes is, he will do so cautiously. An occasion for doing so may arise when the lower car is at its bottom limit and the upper car reaches the third floor. In this event, unless means such as are hereinafter described are provided for preventing it, the upper car will be automatically stopped at the third floor. In order to again start it and continue to the first floor it is simply necessary for the operator to open the circiiit at B,- and' hold it open, and so long as this is done he may proceed downward until This would be the case with the arrangements shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 10 and also with the arrange I ments shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3, if the mechanism now described were not used.

- To prevent the stopping of the descent of the upper car at the third floor when the 4 lower car is at its bottom limit, in the basement of the pit, a vertical rod 31 is'mounted on the lower car so as to be capable of a' limited vertical movement relatively thereto when the lower end of the roda'comes in 'contact with the post 32 at the bottom of the well. The upper end of. the rodis located directly in the path of the weight T but in its. normal or lowermost position its upper end does not project far enough above the lower car to contact with said weight. An.

instant before the lower carreaches its lower limit, the rod 31 comes in contact withthe post 32and the downward movement of the rod is stopped while the car continues downward to its lower limit. The efiect of this relative movement of the car and rod is to cause the upper end of the rod to project above the car as shown in Fig. 7 far enough I toengage the weight T before the switch S comes in contact-with the tappet of the lower car, and 'thus the closing of the circuit14 of the upper car atthe switch S is prevented. The weight T being arrested, recedesrelatively t0 the upper car, the slack in its supporting cable being taken up as already described, and the upper car may proceed downward until it is stopped either by the operator or by an automatic limit stop now to bedescribed.

In addition to the terminal 15 the circuit f 14 of the upper car has terminals 15 carried by the weight T and controlled by a switch S the button of which is located at the top side of the weight T The weight T having been arrested by the rod 31 remains at rest and as the upper car reaches its lower limit (the first floor) a tappet T carried by the upper car closes the circuit 14 at the switch S resulting in the stopping of the upper car in the manner already de scribed. When both cars are at their lower limits, the upper car may be started upward but the lower car cannot ascend any considerable distance while the upper car is at its lower limit, because even'a slight upward movement of the lower car whilethe upper car is at its lower limitwill bring the switch S into contact with the weight T and thereby close the circuit'14 of the lower car. 1 I V a v As the upper car approaches its upper limit a switch S carried byit comes in contact with a tappet T and -closes the circuit 14 at contacts 33, thereby stopping the car in the manner already described. The tappet T is in the form of a weight supported by a suspended cable 18 and the slack in this cable is taken up by a' difierential take up mechanism D supported at thetop of the shaft and constructed precisely liketlie take-up mechanism D, shown on the top of,

the car C; corresponding parts of the two take-up mechanisms being designated by similar reference numerals with the addition of the exponent (a) to the numeral applied i to he parts of the take-up mechanism D at the top of the shaft. Having reached its top limit in order to start the upper car down ward, it is necessary to open its circuit 14 at B and hold it open until the switch S has passed out of engagement with the tappet T In addition to the contacts 15-the circuit 14 of the lower car has contacts 34, (correspending with the contacts 33) which are controlled by a switch S 1 carried by a weight W supported below the car bya rope or cable 18 which rope or cable is in turn supported by differential takeup mechanism 1) supported beneath the car andconstructed precisely like the diflerential take-up mechanism D, similar parts of both being indicated by the same reference letters with the exponent I), added -to the characters indicating. the parts of the takeup mechanism D When the car is about to reach its bottom limit the switch S is closed by a tappet T at the bottom of the well and closes the circuit 14. This'forms a lower limit stop which operates in the manner already described with reference to the top limit stop. In order to start the lower car upward the circuit must be opened at B and held open until switch S has moved out of engagement with the tap pet T Instead of constructing the lower limit stop of the lower car as just described it may be constructed as shown in Fig. 12. In this figure the terminals 34, and the switch S are carried by the car and the tappet T is carried by the post 32 which is capable of moving vertically in a suitable socket and is held normally in its elevated position by a coiled spring 35,'so that the tappet is capable of receding when struck.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, the contacts 15 'of the upper car are carried directly by the car and are controlled-by a trip switch S which is more clearly shown in Fig. 6. It consists of two arms 36 and 37 disposed at right angles to each other and fulcrumed to a suitable part of the car at their junction 38. These arms are so located that one or the other of them at all times lies in the path of the shaft T 'of the traveling pulley20, which forms a tappet for striking that arm of the switch which is for the-time being in itspath and thereby throwing the switch in one direction for the purpose of losing the circuit 14 at the contacts 15,.and in the other direc-, tion for the purpose of opening the circuit, an aiding spring 39 being provided for aiding the-movement of the switch past its central position and yieldingly holding it either open or closed,'as the case may be, It will be observed that when the movement vof the weight T is arrested the continued nism is dispensed with and in'place thereof a weight in the form of a rod W? is used. This rod is supported by the car C through the medium of a collar 41, so as to be vertically movable relatively to the car and terminates at its lower end at about the same distance from the bottom of the car as does the cable 18. Its lower end constitutes a ta-ppet T cooperating after the manner of the weight or tappet T with the switch S of the lower-car for closing its circuit 14. Near the'upper end it carries a tappet T cooperating after the manner of the tappet T for operating the switch S of the upper car and closing it at the contacts 15.

Figs. 1,2, 3, 4 and 5 show arrangements in which the circuit 14 is provided with open contacts on each car and a switch on each car controlled by a ta pet controlledor carried by the other car or operating said switch, while in Fig. 10 the circuit 14 is led shows the invention applied only to the mechanism for stopping a single car at the top "and bottom limits of its travel. The mechanism for stopping it at its bottomlimit has already been described in conne its top limit is constructed as shown in Fig. 4 excepting that the take=upmechanism D is not difl'erential, the .tappet T being carried by one end of the cabl 18 which passes over two fixed pulleys 19.a'nd, 26 and has the weight W, attachedto its other end, the cable bemg passed one 'orthore times around one of the pulleys in order to prevent its slipping.

.tion with Fig. 3. That for stopping it at The foregoing description assumes that I the elevator car orcars may be operated by anytype of motor the s tai'tlng and stopping of which in the ordinary running. ofthe elevator may be accomplished by any suitable form of electro receptive devlce arranged in the circuit 2. This is what'is known asan electrically controlled elevator, but the invention is equally applicable to a mechanically controlled elevator such,

for example, as shown in 'Figs. 12 to 15 inelusive. 1 i

l the hydraulic motors of the respective cars,

the apparatus shown in this figure being equipped with hydraulic mechanism for operating the cars and mechanical-mechanism for controlling them. Each of the cars is shown as being provided with a controller lever 46 for operating a cable 47 which embraces a sheave, or pulley 48 which is suitably connected with a. suitable valve of the hydraulic motor, all of which parts may be of customary or of any desired construction.

The motor has also a limit stop valve 49 which is shown somewhat in detail in Figs. 15 and 16 and which is indicated diagrammatically in Figs. 12, 13 and 14. The valve prop-er (not shown in the drawings) has a shaft 50 to which is secured a gear wheel 51 the under side of which carries aweight 52 which holds the valve normally in its open position and returns it thereto when unrestrained. Meshing with the gear wheel 51' is a pinion 53 on the shaft of a drum pulley 56 around which passes the customary standing stop rope 55 having buttons 56 that are adapted to be engaged by an arm 57, which latter may be carried directly by the car or by the traveling sheave frame. Secured directly to the valve shaft 50 is a lever 56 the end of which is connected by a link 57 with the core '58 of the solenoid 45. With this arrangement it will be observed that in the absence of the automatic closing of the circuit 14, the stop valve 49 will operate in the customary manner for stopping the car at the top and bottom limits of its travel. It

.is also apparent that upon the automatic closing of the circuit 14, the solenoid 45 will be energized and the lever 56 and other parts will be moved to the positions indi cated by dotted lines in Fig. 15 thereby operating the valve 49 precisely as it wouldv be operated by movement derived from the standing cable 55.

In the modification shown in Fig. 13 the invention is shown only in its application to the automatic mechanism for stopping the cars upon their'approach to within a predetermined distance of each other, and the equipment for this purpose is substantially like that shown in Fig. 10, excepting that mechanical controllers 46 are substituted for electrical controllers C and the solenoids of the circuit 14 of the two cars are arranged in operative relation to suitable valves of the motors, instead of in operative relation to the'controller-lever.

In Fi 14, the invention is shown in its application to,the top and bottom limit stops of a single car C". The stopping of the car at each'of its limits is accomplished by completing a circuit 14 through the solenoid 45 whereby the valve 49 is operated. This circuit'has a pair of contacts carried by a weight-'W which is supported by a cable 18 and differential take-up mechanism D constructed and arranged precisely like that shown in 'Figs. 1 and 3. The weight carries a switch S which is adapted to close the circuit 14 when it is struck by a tappet T on the top of the car. For

stopping the car at its bottom limit mechanism like that at the topof Fig. 11 is used. A switch S is supported by the post 32 and arranged in the path of a weight T forming a tappet, said weight being suspended from the bottom of the car by take-up mechanism D The herein described stops for stopping the car'tat its topfand bottom limits, where only a single car is operated in a single shaft, or for stopping the upper car at its 1 top limit and the bottom car at its lower limit, where two cars are operated in one and the same shaft are not intended to, and do not operate'at each ascent and descent of the car for stopping it with its floor flush with the top and bottom landings, and thus,

relieving the operator of his duty to do so, but are supposed to and do operate in the event of his failure to stop the car at the landings. They operate by temporarily putting the vital parts of the controller out of his control and shifting them to stop positions, so that they automatically cause the car to be sto-pped, while at the same time leaving it possible for him to reestablish his control over the controller, so that he may again start the car in the proper direction. They are not intended to supersede. the final limit stops, that are now customarily used on all electric elevators, but are auxiliary thereto and are arranged to operate in ad- Vance of said final limit stops, so that if the limit stops' herein described fail to operate, the final limit stops, being in reserve, will with absolute certainty, stop the car when they are tripped and will put the car absolutely beyond the control of the operator until they are reset by the engineer. These final limit stops, customarily used, are not shown in the drawings because they are well understood by those skilled in the art, a peculiarity of them being a trip which when once. operated must be reset manually.

The limitstops herein described are particularly valuable on elevators having a single car operating in a single shaft, and I prefer to construct them as herein shown and described, but they may be used on elevators having a plurality of cars operating in a single shaft and'they may be variously constructed and still be within the scope of struction for automatically stopping an elevator car through the medium of the controller.

What I claim as 'new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an elevator apparatus, the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means for independently operating them, of a device arranged between the cars and adapted to extend directly from one to the other when the cars are at a predetermined distance apart, and means operated by said device for stopping the upper car going down when the cars approach each other to within said predetermined distance apart, said means including a circuit having a switch adapted to be operatedby said device,

an electro-receptive device included in said circuit and means operated by said electroreceptive device for stopping'the carl 2. In an elevator apparatus, the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft and means for independently operating them, of 00- operating devices carried by the cars and adapted to engage each other when the cars are at a predetermined distance apart, and means operated by said devices when engaged for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car going up on their approach to within said predetermined dis.- tance apart,-one .of said devices being suspended from its car by a cable.

3. In an elevator apparatus, the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft and means for independently operating them, of cooperating devices carried bythe cars and I adapted to engage each other when the cars are ata predetermined distance apart, and means operated by said devices when en- ,gagedv for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car going up upon-their approach to withinsaid predetermined distance apart, one of ,said devices being suspended from its car by a cable and differential mechanism for taking up the'slack in the cable.

4. In an elevator apparatus, the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft and a means ,for independently operating them, of cooperating devices carried by the cars and adapted to engage each other when the cars are at a predetermined distance-apart, and means Including electric circuit switches n said circuits adapted to be closed by the engagement of said devices, electro-receptive devices in said circuits and means operated by said electroreceptive devices for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car going up upon their approach to within said predetermined distance apart.

5. In an' elevator apparatus, the combination with two cars movable both.upward and downward in the sameshaft and means for independently operating them, of cooperating devices carried by the cars and adaptedto engage each ot-her when the cars are at a predetermined-distance apart, and means including an electric circuit on each car, a switch in said'circuit, adapted to be closed by the engagement of said devices,

an electro-receptive device in said circuit and means operated by said elect-ro-receptive device for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car coming up upon their approach to within said predetermined distance apart. 1 v p,

6. In an elevator apparatus, the combination of two cars movable bothupward and downward in the same shaft, and means for independently operating them, of cooperating devices carried by the cars and adapted to engage each other .when the cars are at a predetermined distance apart, and means. including electric circuits, switches in said circuits adapted to be closed by the engagement of said devices, circuit breakers in said circuit, electro-receptive devices in said circuits and means operatedby said .electr'o receptive devices for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car going up on their approach to wlthln a pre determlned distance apart.

7. In an elevator apparatus the combina- I tion with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft and means for independently operating them, of cooperating devices carried by the cars and adapted to engage each other when the cars are at a predetermined distance apart, and V meansincluding an electric circuit on each car, a switch in said circuit adapted to be closed by the engagement of said. devices, a circuit breaker in said circuit, an electroreceptive device in said circuit, and means operatedby said electro-receptive device for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car going up upon their approach to within said predetermined distance apart.

'8. In an elevator apparatus, the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means including a controller on each car, for independently operating them, of cooperatingdevices carried by the cars and adapted to engage each other when the cars reach a predetermined distance apart, and means operated by said devices when in engagement, for stopping the upper car going down and *the lower car going up, through downward in the same shaft, and means including a controller, on each car, for independently operating them, of cooperating devices carried by the cars and adapted to engage each other when the cars reach a predetermined'distance apart, and means operated by said devices when in. engagement for rendering the controllerlever in operative, and means for automatically returning the controller shaft to stop posi tion.

10. In an elevator apparatus, the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means including a controller, on each car, for inde- I nation with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means including a controller on each car,'for independently operating them, of cooperating devices carried by the cars and adapted to engage each other when the cars reach a predetermined distance apart and means, including electric circuits, switches in said circuits adapted to be closed by the engagement of said devices, electro-receptive devices in said circuits and means operated by said electro-receptive devices, for operating the controller and stopping the upper car going down and the lower car going up.

12. In an elevator apparatus, the combination with two cars movable bothfupward and downward in the same shaft, and means including a controller, on each car, for independently operating them, of cooperating devices carried by the cars and adapted to engage each other when the cars reach 'apredetermined distan e apart, and means in cluding an electric circuit on each car, a switch in said circuit adapted to be closed by the engagement of said devices, an electro recept1ve device in said circuit and means operated by said GIGCtI'OfI'GCGPtiVG de vice 'for' operating the controller and stop ping the upper car, going down and lower cargomg up.

13. In an elevator apparatus the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means including a controller, on each car, for independently operating them, of cooperating devices carried by the cars and "adapted to engage eachothervwhen the cars reach a predetermined distance apart, and means including electric circuits,. switches included in said circuits adapted to be closed by the engagement of said devices, circuit breakers in said circuits, and electro-receptive devices for operating the controllers.

lL'In an elevator apparatus, the combination with two cars movable both upward nation with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means for independently operating them, of cooperating devices carried by the cars and adapted to engage each other when the cars are at a predetermined distance apart, mechanism operated by the engagement of said devices for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car going up, and means for preventing said stopping mechanism from operating when the lower car is at its lower limit.

16. In an elevator apparatus the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft and means for independently operating them, of cooperating devices. carried by the cars and adapted to engage each other when the cars are at a predetermined distance apart, mechanism operated by the engagement of said devices for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car going up, and means for preventing the engaging ofsaid devices ,when the lower car is at its lower limit.

17. In an elevator apparatus, the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, means for independently operating them, and a signaling device carried by each car, of cooperating devices carried by the cars, respectively, and adapted to engage each otherwhen the cars are at a predetermined distance apart, and means operated by said cooperating devices when engaged for operating said signals, one of saidcooperating devices being adapted to recede, relatively to the car which carries it, when engaged by the other of said devices.

18. In an elevator apparatus, the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means for operating them, of cooperating devices carried by the cars and adapted to engage each other when the cars at at a predetermined distance apart, and means operated by said devices when engaged for stopping the. upper car going down and the lower car going up upon their approach to within said predetermined distance apart, one of said devices being adapted to recede, when enga'ged to permit the continued movement of the car, and a signalon each car operated for operating them, of coiiperating devices |by said devices.

19. In an elevator apparatus, the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft and means adapted to engage each other when the cars are at a predetermined distance apart,

means operated by said devices when en-- gaged for stopping the upper car, going 15. down and the lower car going up upon their approach to within said predetermined distance apart, a cable depending'from one of,

said cars and supporting one of said devices, and mechanism for taking up the slack in the cable.

20. In an elevator apparatus, the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means for operating them, of cooperating devices adapted to engage each other when the cars are at a predetermined distance apart, meansoperated by said devices when'brought into engagement with each other for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car going up upon their approach to within a predetermined distance apart, a cable' depending from one of said cars and supporting one of said devices, and differential mechanism for taking up the slack in the cable.

nation with 'two cars, movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means for operating them, of cooperating devices carried by the cars and adaptedtoyengage each other when the cars are at a predetermined distance apart, and means including electric circuits, having switches adapted to be closed by the engagement of said devices,

electro-receptive devices in said circuits, and

- means operated by said electro-receptive devices for stopping the upper car fgoingdown and the lower car going up: upon their ap proach to within a predetermined distance apart.

' 22. In an elevator apparatus the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means 4 upper car going down and the lower car going upon their approach to within a predetermined distance apart.

21. In an elevator apparatus, the combi 23. In an elevator apparatus the combination with two cars movable both -upward and downward in the same shaft and means for operating them, of cooperating devices carried by the cars-and adapted to engage each other when the cars are at a predetermined distance apart, and means including an electric circuit on each car, havinga switch adapted to be closed by the engagement ofsaid devices, a circuit breaker in said circuit, an electro-receptive device in said circuit, and means operated by said electro-receptive device for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car going upupon thelr approach to within a predetermined distance apart.

24. In an elevator apparatus, a plurality of independently supported cages, cont-rolling devices connected with each cage, and means connected to travel with each cage at a distance therefrom to contact with and,

shift the controlling devices of an approaching cage to arrest the latter and constructed to release said controlling devices and restore them to their former conditions as the cage approached resumes its movement.

25. In an elevator apparatus the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means for independently operating them, of cooperating devices carried by the cars and adapted to engage each other when the cars are at a predetermined distance apart, one i of the said devices being adapted to recede relatively to the car carrying it, electric circuits having switches adapted to be closed by the engagement of said devices, electroreceptive devices in said circuits, and means operated by said electro receptive devices for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car going up when they approach each other to within said predetermined distance apart;

26. In an elevator apparatus thecombination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means forindependently operating them, of cooperating devices carried by the cars" and adapted to engage each other when the cars are ata predetermined distance apart, one of said devices being adapted, to recede relatively to .the car carrying it, an electric circuit on each car having a switch adapted to be closed by'the engagement ofsaid devices, 1

electro-receptivedevices in said circuit, and

means operated by said electro-receptive devices for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car golng up when they approach each other to within said predetermined distance apart.

27. In an elevator apparatus the combinaand downward in the same shaft, and means for independently operating them, of co6pcrating devices carried by the cars and tion with two cars movable both upward i up when the cars approach to Within a predetermined distance apart.

28. In an elevator apparatus the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means including controllers for operating them, of cohperating devices carried by the cars and adapted toengage each other when the cars are at a predetermined distance apart, electric circuits having switches, adapted to'be closed by the engagement of said devices,

and electro-receptive' devices in said circuits arranged in operative relation to the controllers for stopping theupper car going down and the lower car going up through the medium of the controllers.

29. In an elevator apparatus the combination of two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means including a controller on each car for independently operating them, of coiiperating devices carried with the cars and adapted to engage each other when the cars are at a predetermined distance apart, electric circuits having switches adapted to be closed by the engagement of said devices, elect-ro-receptive devices in said circuits, and means operated by said electro-receptive devices for disconnecting the controlling levers from their shafts. I

30. In an elevator apparatus, the combination of two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft and means for independently operating them, of a weight suspended from the upper car and depending a predetermined distance therefrom, said weight being adapted torecede relatively to the upper car, and means operated by the weight for stopping theupper car going down and the lower car going up upon their approach to within said predetermined distance apart. v

i 31. In an elevator apparatus the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft and means for independently operating them, of a weightsuspended from the upper car and depending a predetermined distance therefrom, said weight being adapted to recede relatively to the upper car, electric circuits having switches adapted to be closed by said weight when engaged, electro-receptive devices in said circuits and means operated by said electro-receptive devices for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car going up upon their approach to within said predetermined distance apart.

32. In an elevator apparatus the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the sameshaftand means including controllers for operating them, of

a weight suspended from the upper car and depending a predetermined distance therenation with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means for independently operating them, of aweight suspended from the upper car, and depending a predetermined distance therefrom, said weight being capable of receding relatively to the upper car, switches carried by the weight and lower car respectively and adapted to be engaged and operated by the lower car and weight, respectively, and electric circuits including sad switches, electro-receptive devices in said circuits and means operated by said electro-receptive devices for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car going up when said cars approach to within said predetermined distance apart.

34. In an elevator apparatus the combination of two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft,'and means for independently operating them, of a weight, a cable from which it is suspended from the disconnecting the controller levers,

upper car and depending at a predetermined distance therefrom, said weight being capable of receding relatively to the upper car, take-up mechanism for the suspension cable, switches carried by the weight and lower car respectively, tappets carried by the weight and lower car and adapted'to engage said switches, electric circuits including said switches and electro-receptive devices in said circuits, and means operated by said electro-receptive devices for stopping the upper car going down and the lower car going up when they approach to within said predetermined distance apart. g

35. In an elevator apparatus the'co'mbmation of two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft and means for independently operatingthem, of a weight, a cable by which it is suspended from the upper car at a predetermined distance therefrom, said weight being capable of recedingrelatively to the upper car, means for stopping the upper car going, down and the lower car going up when said cars appreach to within said predetermined dis- .tance apart, a rod movable vertically relatively to the lowercar and means for 'moving said rod upward revatively to the lower car when the lewer car is approaching its lower limit, said rod being adapted'to arrest the downward movement of the weight when the lower car is at itslower limit.

36. In an elevator apparatus, the combination with two cars movable both upward and downward in the same shaft, and means for independently operating them, of a weight, a cable suspending it from the upper car at a predetermined distance therefrom, means operated by the engagementof 15 said weight for vstopping the upper car going down and the lower car going up when the lower car is above its lower limit, and means for stopping the upper car going down when it reaches its lower limit.

MARTIN O. SCHWAB. Witnesses:

C. M. WILKINSON, G. F. JEDLICKA. 

